Once a Champion. Jeannie Watt

ection>

      

      It starts with the horse…

      Liv Bailey never forgot her high school crush. Champion roper Matt Montoya always did have that irresistible daredevil swagger. But Liv isn’t Matt’s shy tutor anymore. She’s a grown woman and a physiotherapist with a painful past. Matt isn’t the only tough one now, and when their tempers clash over a horse they both claim ownership of, sparks fly in more ways than one.

      Liv’s willing to let Matt bring some passion into her life, but when he opens his heart to her, she’s scared of being hurt again. Liv knows there’s more there than just desire—if she can only trust the cowboy who loves her.

      “There’s something you need to understand, Matt.”

      Liv folded her arms over her chest. “You might be able to charm yourself out of a multitude of situations, but you aren’t charming me. Sometimes, despite charisma and good looks, the answer is no. And that’s what it’s going to stay. No.”

      He bit down on the corner of his lip before saying, “Aren’t you going to threaten me with your father again?”

      “Dad’s busy cutting hay.”

      “About time.”

      “He’s been sick.”

      “Sorry to hear that.” He didn’t sound one bit sorry and he made his lack of sympathy clear when he said, “This isn’t over, Liv. I’ll hire a lawyer.”

      “Andie’s dad already advised me, and he said he’ll give me all the help I need to keep Beckett.”

      “He’s my horse.”

      “Not according to the State of Montana.” Liv lifted her chin. “This is the last time we’re having this conversation.”

      Dear Reader,

      Ah, secret high school crushes…remember those? My heroine, Liv Bailey, certainly does. She spent months tutoring hot high school rodeo star Matt Montoya so that he could remain eligible for competition, only to have him ask her sister out once his grades improved. Although Liv didn’t realize it at the time, the situation with Matt helped spark her initiative to stop being the quiet, nice girl who bent over backward to keep everyone happy.

      Ten years later, when the story opens, Liv is no longer the make-no-waves person she was, and when Matt once again needs her help, he’s surprised at how much she’s changed. Matt has also changed, but not by choice. He’s dealing with a career-ending injury and has to learn how to deal with the situation. Like many men, he starts with denial…

      I wrote this book because I’m fascinated by the idea of reinvention, whether by choice or circumstance. I especially like it when people rebel against their assigned niche (remember how everyone was assigned a niche in high school?). Then there’s the matter of unrequited love. Who hasn’t fantasized about running into that crush and having him or her realize just what they missed? It was a lot of fun giving Liv that chance and it was also satisfying changing Matt from a self-absorbed guy obsessed with reclaiming his career into a caring hero who realizes there’s more to life than winning.

      Thanks for reading Once a Champion! I love hearing from readers. If you have questions or comments, please contact me at [email protected].

      Jeannie Watt

      Once a Champion

      Jeannie Watt

       www.millsandboon.co.uk

      ABOUT THE AUTHOR

      Jeannie Watt lives in rural Nevada with her husband and many animals. For many years she sent her (now grown) children to visit their grandparents in Montana, where they would experience ranch life firsthand. Her kids still talk about the fun they had teaching calves to lead, branding, driving tractors and fencing. She and her husband still talk about the peace and quiet they enjoyed while the kids were leading calves and driving tractors.

      Acknowledgment

      I’d like to thank Kari Lynn Dell and Myrna Gallian for bringing me up to speed on rodeo competition and calf/tie-down roping. I love watching rodeo, but, as with all sports, there’s so much more to it than meets the eye. Thanks so very much, ladies!

      Contents

       Chapter One

       Chapter Two

       Chapter Three

       Chapter Four

       Chapter Five

       Chapter Six

       Chapter Seven

       Chapter Eight

       Chapter Nine

       Chapter Ten

       Chapter Eleven

       Chapter Twelve

       Chapter Thirteen

       Chapter Fourteen

       Chapter Fifteen

       Chapter Sixteen

       Chapter Seventeen

       Chapter Eighteen

       Chapter Nineteen

       Chapter Twenty

       Chapter Twenty-One

       Chapter Twenty-Two

       Epilogue

       Excerpt

      CHAPTER ONE

      WHAT ON EARTH had happened to the Bailey Ranch?

      Matt Montoya slowed his pickup to a crawl as he drove over the cattle guard that marked the northern boundary of the property, taking in the sagging fences and weed-choked hay fields that should have been cut at least a week ago. What the hell?

      He hadn’t been to the Bailey Ranch in years, not since he’d come to look at some cattle after he and Trena had first married. The place had been immaculate then. Well-farmed, well-maintained. This was not the ranch he remembered.

      Matt stepped on the gas and continued down the drive to the ranch house, half a mile away. A few steers stood in the pasture, heads down, tails swishing as they ate. At least they looked fat and well fed, but again, the last time he’d been here, Tim Bailey